Dodge Owners

[DHenry]

I have a question for you Dodge Owners, we have a member, Sue Kane, who has a 2005 Dodge Cummins that the battery runs down after a couple of days of no use. She tells me that the batteries are only about 1 year old. She has asked me to look at the truck to see if I can find a problem as to why the batteries are not keeping the charge, what do you all suggest I look for first?

[DQDick]

Depends on how fancy it is. New ones have everything in the world that could be drawing power. First thing I would check is make sure she doesn't have anything plugged into the power outlet that is hot when the key is turned off. Most Dodges have one and sometimes it's hidden in the center console or glove box. My scanner used to do that to me if I left the truck sit too long. Mine has an inverter plug-in also. I would make sure nothing is plugged in there either. After that it's a crap shoot.

[HamRad]

Doug,
As you know I don't have a Dodge but I do have a battery! I suspect she has some sort of load drawing all the time and that is drawing the battery down. And depending on the battery and how she is driving or not driving the truck it could easily be a bad battery. Is this the truck they used to pull the Monty? Good luck and thanks for helping out. I wish I lived closer to you! Dennis

By the way when I had this type problem it turned out to be a bad alternator. And it was an interesting problem because the alternator worked but just wasn't producing enough juice. Once I changed out the bad alternator no more problem. DH

[Pete Hanson]

Is the fiver plugged into the truck when this happens?

[Ishler]

I agree it must be something drawing it down. To pull both batteries in a few days is quite a load. I would put an amp meter in series with the the batteries( find a place where the batteries join) and start pulling fuses until the load drops.

[thor]

if the battery is only a year old it could be the battery. was this a problem before the old battery was replaced.the battery could have a bad cell and cause the battery to drain itself.if she has anything plugged into the pluggs that come with the truck. a loose ground will also run the battery down.

[HamRad]

Since the truck has two batteries she could have one good and one bad and of course the bad one will draw down the good one. I always replace both batteries at the same time. Good luck. Dennis

[scductman]

Dennis that was my problem one of the batterys was bad and with very little draw it would kill the other. they were interstates so I didn't think it was the batterys but I replaced them and no more problems and always replace both at the same time learned that with golf carts.
Bobby

[sgtpp214]

Replace both batteries at once. Bad one will draw down the good one.

[jackel1959]

Doug,
When I had the Ford I had the same problem, twice. Both times it ended up being the alternator. It was only putting out 11.8 and 12.3 volts. Not enough to keep up with charging the batteries.

With Sue's 2005 I would check output voltage of the alternator. It should be in the mid to high 13's (13.6 - 13.8 sounds about right).

Jack

[DHenry]

Thanks for all the suggestions, I will be looking at the truck on Friday, hopefully we can find the problem.

[jackel1959]

Doug,
Were you able to resolve the issue with Sue's truck?

r,
Jack